Valve construction for gas pumps



Oct. 13,1931. Q E, MAKlNsTER 1,827,091

VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR GAS PUMPS Oct. 13, 1931. G; E. MAKlNsTER VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR GAS PUMPS Filed Nov. 19,1928 Sheets-Sheet 2 /A/VENTQ'Q 67:00 E. Mak/M755:

r? Trae/vg y Patented oct. 13, 193i AUNrrls-D @STATES PATsNn OFFICE.

GLENNl E. HAKINSTEB, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, '.ASSIGNOR, BY :um ASSIGN- MENTSffl'Ol'OBDAN & TAYLOR, INC., 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORA- TION' 0I CALIFORNIA.

CONSTRUCTION' FOR GAS :PUMPS Application nlcd November 19, 1m28.V Serial No. 320,372.

My invention relates toV valve structures and more particularly to a valvestructure for use in deep well pumps, 'especially those pumps which are known in t e art as dislaeement pumps. It is in this latter capacf lty thatl have chosen to particularly describe my invention but I desire this choice to Ain no' way limit my invention to this particular combination, inasmuch as my valve structure lo finds utility outside of the-particular combination to be described.

In pumping wells by means of a displacement pump, it is customaryto provide a displacement chamberfbelow the surface level of l5 the liquid in the well, this chamber communieating with the well liquid through suitable valves. When the chamber becomes filled with well liquid, gas is forced into the chamber and di laces'the liquid upward through a suitable 'scharge tubing extending to the surfacmof the ground.

It is desirable that the pressure in the displacement chamber be as low as possible dur4` ing the filling of this chamber with well erated that the body of well liquid entering the chamber in any articularcharge is forced' entirelyr from the discharge tubing at the top of the well before another charge enters the chamber. In this waye the chamber is vented to atmosphere. Sucha practice is extremely wasteful of gas and time, and of late it has been suggested that the displacement chamber might be vented t' easing pressure during 5' the time that another charge is entering this chamber. This requires the use of a suitable valve, and I have found it desirable t utilize j venting the displacement chamber to the reure surrounding the walls of this cha liquid. Most displacement pumps are so opv ,ment cham In providing ,such a pressure-operated valve, it is desirable 4 that thevalve be resillently held in a manner to close the gas supply opening. When the gas pressure on this valve builds up su'tHcient to open the valve against the resilient .means, gas will flow 'downward into the displacement chamber.

After the pressure builds up in this chamber,

there is a tendency for the valve to chatter,

this valve opening only when a suliicient differential pressure has been established between the chamber and the gasg supply openmg. l

It is an object of this invention to provide a valve mechanism in which afvalve member is resiliently heldin a position to close a gas supply opening, this valve member having a velocity ring placed in such a position that the gas entering the gas supply opening impinges against the rin and holds the valve open until this flow o gas as been stopped.

.In this way no chattering takes place, inasmuch as the valve opens asa functionof the pressure of the gas supply andv closes as a function of the velocity of the gasses passing through the opening.

I have foundextremely desirable to so form the/valve structure that this structuremay be removed from the well without removing the displacement chamber.' In accomphshinethis end, I support the displacer on a rimary tubing, and extend a secondary tu ing downward therein, l

this secondar tubing having the valve struc-v ture provide at the lower end thereof. This valve structure engages a seatmember in a novel manner, and forms a Huid-tight fit therewit It is a objectof this invention to provide i adisplacement in .which .the valve P11111 structuremay be readily removable without removing the displacement chamber structure from the well. f

" Further objects and advantages of my in tails of one form of my inventionin conjunction with one of displacement um A Referring to t e drawings, P p

Fig. 1 is an assembled view, partly insection, illustrating my valve structure in a dis- J placement pump.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the valve structure of my invention.

Figs. 3 to 6 are cross-sectional views taken on corresponding lines indicated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the velocity ring utilized in my invention. y

The type of displacement pump illustrated in'Fig. 1 is disposed inside a well casing 10 eX- tending downward from the surface of the ground to a point below the liquid level in the well, the lower end of this well casing being vides a displacement chamber 18 which communicates with the liquid in the well through valves 19 situated in the lower end thereof, these valves being of the fiapper type, which permit a ready ingress of liquid into the displacement chamber but prevent any flow therefrom.

Extendin downward through the primary or outer tu ing 12 is a secondary or innerI tubing 20, through which gas is intermittently supplied :froml the surface of. the ground to the displacement chamber 18 through a valve structure 23.

The details ot this valve structure are best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Referring to these figures, a valve head member 24 is threaded to the lower end of the inner tubing and provides a gas supply opening 25 in communication therewith. Threaded into a cavity 26 of the head member 24 is a dome 27 of a valve body member 28. A valve chamber 3() is formed between the dome 27 and the head member 24, this chamber,n communieating with. an intake passage 31 extending downward through the body member 28 and opening on a gas passage 32 which in turn opens on the lower end of the body member 28.

Formed in the body member 28 concentric with the gas supply opening is a cylinder 35 which communicates at its upper end with the chamber 30 and at'its lower end with the gas passage 32 through a valve opening 36. Adapted to slide in the cylinder 35 is a valve member 38 which is composed of a piston 39 and an integrally formed plunger 40. Grooves 41 are formed in the periphery of the piston 39 so that the piston vwill slide in Huid-tight `relationship relative to the walls of the cylinder. Suitable piston rings may be positioned inthe grooves 41 if desired.

' ered position,

Positioned on the upper end of the piston 39 and forming a part thereof is a velocity ring 42 which is normally held in resilient engagement with a renewable valve seat 42n pressed int-o a counterbore of the gas supply opening 25, this resilient engagement being effected by a compression spring 43 situated in the cylinder 35. y

The details of this velocity ring are best illustrated in Fig. 7. Referring to this figure, the velocity ring 42 is provided with a curved surface 44 whichseats against the valve scat 42a. The velocity ring is held in place by a round-headed bolt 45, the contour of which corresponds to the contour of the curved surface44 so that when the piston is in a lowcompressed gas flowing through the inner tubing 20 is guided through the space between the velocity ring and the valve seat 42a in a. direction indicated by arrows 46 of Fig. 7. This gas impinges on a ledge 48 of the velocity ring 42, thus exerting a downward force on the piston and'tending to move this piston downward as long as'any fiow of gas takes place. after which the valve member moves upward under the influence of the spring 43. Thus, the valve member is first moved downward due to a sufficient dierence in pressure being established between the gas supply opening 25 and thevcylinder 35, but once opened, the velocity of the lgas maintains this valve open until the velocity of the gas flowing as indicated by the arrows 46 becomes very low.`

When the valve member 38 is in its lower position, the lower end of the plunger is adapted to close thevalve opening 36. This is made. possible by'lpreferably taperingthe lower end of the plunger 40 as best illustrated in Fig. 2.

The particular mounting of the valve structure 23 is an important part of this 'invention. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, ll provide a seat member 50 formed of such an outer diameter that it may be pressed into the casing 16. The seat member 50 provides an opening 51 into which the body member 28 of the valve structure 23 extends, the outer diameter of the body member being slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 51 so as to provide an annular chamber 52 therebetween. The body member 28 has upper and lower tapered portions 54 and 55 formed therein, these portions 'corresponding to upper and lower'tapered portions 56 and 57 formed on the seat member 50. ,Tn some instances it is desirable to utilize va direct contact between'these two pairs of surfaces for defining the upper and lower ends of the annular chamber 52, but in the preferred embodiment of this invention l prefer to provide upper and lower packing rings 58 and 59 for serving this purpose. The upper packing ring v58 is preferably secured to the body member 28 in a position shown in Fig. 1:

v.lli

2, while the lower packing -ring'59 is preferably secured in the lower end of (he opening 51 in a position shown in Fig. 2.

l It should thus be clear that the pumping structure of my invention is supported by the outer tubing 12, this pumping structure being designated by the numeral 20 and comprising the shell 15, casing 16, and seat member 50, while.I the valve structure 23 is supported on the lower end of the inner tubing 20.. It thus 'becomes possible to draw upward on the inner tubing 20.and raise the valve structure to the surface of the ground without disturbing the pumping structure. This'is a very`important feature of my invention, inasmuch as any trouble which might be experienced vfrom the valve structure may be corrected without moving the entirepump from thel placement chamber to a position near -the lower end thereof. The lower end of the discharge tube is provided with a check valve structure 65 which prevents any downward flow of liquid through this pipe and into the displacement chamber, but readily permits an upward flow therethrough.

'The dischargel tube 64 is positioned to one side o f the axis of the displacement chamber 18 so as to provide room fora channel 66 formed in the seat member and communicating between the upper end of the displace# ment chamber 18 and the gas passage 32. This channel is intermittently utilized for supplying compressed gas tothe upper end of the displacement chamber and for venting.

the upper end of this chamber to casing pressure through the cylinder 35 and the valve opening 36. This venting is made. possible by a port- 67 communicating between the cyl-- inder 35` and the annular chamber 52, and a port 68 communicating between the annular chamber 52 and a port 69, this latter port being formed through the casing 16 and com.

municating with. theA space insidethe well casing. The ow of gas through the vent means thus formed by thel ports 67, 68, and 69, `the valve opening 36,'the gas passage 32, and the channel 66, is controlled by the plunger 40, the chamber 18 being vented to casing pressure only when thevvalve member 38 is in its open position shown. in Fig. 1.

lt should thus be apparent. that it isnot necessary to accurately align the ports 67 and 68 when the valve ystructure is lowered' into engagement with .the pumping structure..`

The ports 67 and 68 are always connected `the discharge tube.

therefore not be limited to the through the annular chamber 52, this chamtain this valve in a downward position. Si-

multaneously with the valve belng moved in its downward position, the plun er 40 seats in the valve opening 36, thus closmg the vent means and preventing any escape of compressed gas throughthe ports 67, 68, and69. The compressed gas thus passes downward through the gas passage 32 and the channel has previously flowed into the chamber 18 by gravity during the time the vent means is open, upward through the discharge tube 64 and the discharge passage-63 to theannular space between the inner and outer tubings 2() and 12. The intermittent valve controlling the flow of compressed gas may be so regulated that this llow is cut of before any gas rises in the discharge tube 64, or it may be adjusted to permit such a rise of gas through ln any event, when this intermittent valve closes, the velocity of the gas-flowing asv indicated by the arrows 46 of Fig. 7, is materially decreased after the gas in the inner tube has expanded and escaped throughthe gas supply opening 25, thus al- .66 and forces'the body of well liquid which f lowing the valve member 38 to rise and seat i .against the valve seat 42, venting the upper end of thev displacement chamber to casing pressureand allowin a new ingress of well liquid into this cham er.'

The valvestructure of my invention inds utility in lvarious other arts Where it is desirable to simultaneously open one passage and close another. Similarly, the novel cooperation between the valve structure 23 and the seat member 50 also I i'nds utility in other arts, and all of the appended claims should y pumping lart. l claim as my invention: 1. ln a displacement pump for pumping wells, the combination-of walls forminga displacement chamber adapted to be sub merged in a liquid to be pumped,there beingy vent means communicating between said'v dis? placement -chamber .and the exterior of said i rac placement chamber and to simultaneously ,i

close said vent means, and means for operating said piston when said pressure fluid is shut o@ tn simultaneously close said pressure Huid passage and open said vent means.

2. In a displacement pump for pumping Wells, the combination of walls forming' a displacement chamber adapted to be submerged in a liquid to be pumped, there being vent means communicating between said displacement chamber and the exterior of said walls; means for supplying intermittent' charges of compressed gas communieating with said displacement chamber through an opening, a'piston in a cylinder formed by said walls, said piston closing said opening in a manner to be operated by said intermittent gas supply, means for returning said piston to i s closed position when said-flow 'of gas ceases, and valve means operable by the movement of said piston for controlling the' flow through said vent 3. In a displacement pump for pumping Wells, the combination of walls forming a 'displacement chamber adapted to be submerged in a liquid to be pumped, there being vent means communicating between said displacement chamber and the exterior of said walls, a compressed gas supply means arranged to supply intermittent charges of compressed gas through a valved opening to said displacement chamber, a Valve member slidable relative to said walls and resiliently closing the compressed gas opening, and means formed on said valve member whereby the velocity of said compressed gas through said opening holds said valve member in position to close said vent means until the gas velocity falls below a predetermined value.

4. In a displacement pump for pumping wells, the combination of a primary tubing su'spendedly supported in the well, a pumping structure secured to the lower end of said primary tubing, a seat member secured within said primary tubing adjacent said pumping structure and having a luid discharge passage and a gas passage each communicating with said pumping structure and a vent passage communicating with said gas passage andthe exterior of said primary tubing and spaced seats, a secondary tubing positioned within said primary tubing, a valve structure secured to the lower end of said secondary tubing and providedwith spaced seats arranged to seat on the spaced-seats of said seat member and having a gas passage communicating with the gas passage of said seat member, a vent passage communicating with the vent passage of said seat member and a valve meansfor controlling said gas and vent passages.

L 5. In a displacement pump for pumping Wells, the combination of a primary tubing suspendedly supported in the well, a pumping structure secured to the lower end of said primary tubing, a seat member secured within said primary tubing adjacent said pumping structure and having a Huid discharge passage and a gas passage each communieating with said pumping structure and a Vent passage communicating with said gas passage and the exterior of said primary tubing land spaced seats, a secondary tubing positioned within said primary tubing, a valve structure secured to the lower end of said secondary tubing and provided with spaced seats arranged to s-eat on the spaced seats ot said seat member and having a gas passage communicating With the gas passage of said seat member, a ventpassage communieating with the vent passage of said seat member and a valve means for controlling said gas and vent passages, and a resilient packing means positioned to be compressed between the adjacent seats of said seat member and 'said valve structure.

6. In a displacement pump for-pumping Wells,the combination of a primary tubing suspendedly supported in the well, a pumplng structure secured to the lower end of said primary tubing, a seat member secured within said primary tubing adjacent said pumping structure and having a fluid discharge passage and a gas passage each communicating with said pumping structure and a vent passage communicating with said gas passage and the exterior of said primary tubing, a secondary tubing positionedwithin said primary tubing, a valve structure secured to the lower end of said secondary tubing and arranged to be supported by said seat member and having a gas passage communicating with the gas passage of said seat member, a vent passage communicating withV the vent passage of said seat member and a valve means for controlling said gas and vent passages.

7. In a displacement pump for pumping wells, the combination of a primary tubing suspended from the top of said well, a pumping structure secured to the lower end of said primary tubing, a seat member carried within said prima-ry tubing and adjacentI said pumping structure and having lports communicating with said pumping structure, a secondary tubing positioned within said primary tubing, and a valve structure secured to the lower end of said secondary tubing and arranged to be supported by said seat member and having ports communicating with the ports of said seat member.

8. In a displacement pump for pumping wells, the combination of a primary tubing suspendedly supported in the well, a displacement chamber secured to the lower end of said primary tubing, a seat member carried by-said primary tubing adjacent said displacement chamber and having a Huid discharge passage and a. gas passage each communicating with said displacement chamber and said primary tubing and a vent passage communicating with the exterior of said primary tubing, a .secondary tubing positioned the vent and gas passages of said seat member, a valve means slidably mounted in said valve structure and operated by the gas pressure for closing said vent passage and Ato open said gas passage, and a resilient member yieldingly holding said valve member in position to open said vent passage and close said gas passage.

l v 9. In a displacement pump, the combination of walls forming a displacement chamber, a valve body unit including a cylinder therein, a vent passage communicating between said cylinder and the exterior of said displacement chamber, a pressure iiuid opening, a passage communicating between said cylinder and said displacement chamber, a valve member operatively mounted insaid cylinder and arranged to close the said passage communicating between said cylinder and said displacement chamber when the pressure fluid pressure exceeds a predetermined value and to open said pressure iiuid opening, a resilientl means fassociated with said valve member for moving said valve member when the pressure iiuid pressure drops below a` predetermined value to open said passage communicating between said cylinder and said displacement chamber and to close said pressure iuid opening, a passage communlcatmg between said pressure Huid opening and said displacement chamber.

10. In a displacement pump, the combina. tion of walls forming a displacement cham# ber, a valve body member associated there' with and having a cylinder communicating with said displacement chamber through a valve opening, a vent passage communicating between said cylinder and theexterior of said displacement chamber and having a second gas passage communicating withsaid displacement chamber, a valve head member-secured tosaid valve body member and having al gas supplyV opening, a valve member normallyclosing said gas supply opening and being displaceable to'Y close said valve opening, a velocity ring vformed on said' valve member positionedV in the path of the iiow of gas through said gas supply opening wherei bythe velocity of said gas holds saidvalve member away Jfrom 'said gas supplyopening,

anda resilient member for returning said valve member to close said gas supply openinOf when the velocity of said gas supply falls bezlaow'a predetermined value. l

.11. In combination, a valve body member providing a cylinder, a valve head member 'secured to said valve body-member and providing a'gas supply o ning inialignment with said cylinder, a pion in said cylinder adapted to close said gas supply opening, a

plunger on said piston adapted to close a vent opening of said valve body member when said combinaby said pumping structure and including an oil discharge passage for said pumping strucy ture, acentral bore; seats positioned at the extremities of said lcentral bore, a gas p'assage connecting said central borewith the dis# placement chamber, and a port connecting said central bore with the exterior of said a pumping structure; a valve body including a cylindrical section of somewhat smaller diameter than and extending into said. seat member central bore, seatsadapted to engagev said seat member central bore seats, whereby a chamber is formed between said valve bodyand said'seat member, a central bore forming a cylinder, ports communicating between said valve body central bore and said chfamber, a valve seat positioned at the lower end of said Valve body central bore, a

passage through said valve seat communicating with said seat member gas passage, and a counterbore lat the upper end of saldcylinder; a gas supply inlet member secured to said valve body and having a valve seat; a

piston operatively mounted; in said valve body cylinder, including a valve carried by the upper end of said piston, for-,forming a` closure .with said gas supply inlet `seat when vsaid piston is in its uppermost position,

and a valve carried by the lower end of vsaid piston for forming a Aclosure with said valve body seat when said piston is in its lowermost position, a spring for resiliently holding said piston 1n 'itsz uppermost position; a passage connecting said valve body-counterbore with said seat member gas passage whereby suitable Huidtight passagesare formed between said seat member and said valve body. 13. In a displacement pump, the combination of; means for supplying intermittent charges of compressed gas; a pumping strucv ture including a displacement chamber, a

.valve to admit fluid into said chamber, adelivery tube extending to near the bottom of said displacement chamber, a valve to admit duid into said delivery tube; a seat member 'carried by said pumping structure andincluding a discharge passage into which said delivery tube is secured, a central bore, seats positioned at thev extremities of said central bore, a gas passage communicating between said central bore and said displacement a chamber, and a port connecting said central iis a ias 'ira bore with the exterior of said pumping structure; a valve body including a cylindrical sectionof somewhat smaller diameter than and extending into said seat member central bore, seats adapted to engage said seat member central bore seats whereby a chamber is formed between said valve body and said seat member, a central bore forming a cylinder, ports communicating between said valve body central bore and said chamber, a valve seat positioned at the lower end of said valve body central bore, a passage through said valve seat communicating with said seat member' gas passage, and a counterbore at thevupper end of said cylinder; a gas supply inlet member in communication with said means for supplying intermittent' charges of compressed gas, and secured to said valve body and having a valve seat; a piston operatively mounted in said valve body cylinder including a valve carried by the upper end of said piston, for forming Va closure with said gas supply inlet seat, when said piston is in its uppermost position and a valve carried by the lower end of said piston for forming a closure with said valve body7 seat, when said piston is in its lowermost position, a spring for resiliently holding said piston npits uppermost position, and a' passage connecting said valve body counterbore with said seat member gas passage 14. In a displacement pump for pumping wells, the combination of; primary tubing suspendedly supported in said well, a pumping structure secured to said primary tubing and including a displacement chamber, a valve for admitting fluid into said chamber, a delivery tube extending to near the bottom of said dis lacement chamber, a valve for admitting uid into said delivery tube; a seat member carried by said pumping structure, and including a discharge passage into which said delivery tube -is secured, a central bore,

seats positioned at the extremities of said central bore, a gaspassage communicating between said central bore and said displacement chamber,and a port connecting said central bore with the exterior of said pumping structure; secondary tubing extending downward in said primary tubing; a valve body including -a cylindrical section of somewhat smaller diameter than and extending into said seat member central bore, seats adapted to engage and be supported by said seat member central bore seats, whereby a chamber is formed between said valve body and said seat member, a central bore forming a cylinder, ports communicating between said valve body central bore and said chamber, a valve seat positioned at the lower end of said valve body central bore, a passage through said valve seat communicating with said seat member gas passa e, and a -counter-bore at the upper end of said cylinder; a gas supply inlet member secured to and supported by said valve body and secured to and supporting said secondary tubing and forming a gas supply passage between said secondary tubing and said valve, body and having a valve seat in said passage; a piston operatively mounted in said valve body cylinder including a valve carried by the upper end of said piston for forming a closure with said gas supply inlet seat, when said piston is in its uppermost position, and a valve carried by the lower end of said piston for forming a closure with said valve body seat when said piston is in its lowermost position; aspring for resilient-ly holding said piston in its uppermost position, a passage connecting said valve body counterbore with sai seat member gas passage.

15. In a displacement pump, the combination of; a pumping structure; means for supplying intermittent charges of compressed gas to said pumping structure; valve means operated by said compressed gas when the pressure of said gas exceeds a predetermined value for closing a vent passage from said pumping structure and means positioned on said valve means and acted upon by the velocity of said compressed gas for retaining said ventpassage valve means in closed posi-` tion, and a spring arranged to return said valve means to open said vent passage when said compressed gas velocity falls below a predetermined value.

16. In a displacement pump, the combination of; a pumping structure, means of supplying intermittent charges of compressed gas to said pumping structure; valve means arranged in said pumping structure and operated by said compressed gas when the pressure of said gas exceeds a predetermined value for closing a vent passage from said pumping structure; means associated with said valve means acted upon by the velocity and pressure of said compressed gas for retaining said vent passage closed; and means` for'returning said valve means to open said 110 vent passage when said compressed gas velocity and pressure fall below av predetermined value, whereby the intermittent charges of compressed gas cause the vent passage to remain closed during the pumping 115 cycle.

17. In a displacement pump for pumping wells, the combination of walls forming a displacement chamber adapted to be submerged in aliquid to be pumped, there being vent means communicating between said displacement chamber and the exterior of said walls, gas supply means communicating with said displacement chamber through an opening', a piston in a cylinder formed by said 125 walls, said piston closing said opening in a manner to be displaceable by a iow of compressed gas through said supply means, valve means operable by the movement of said piston for controlling the flow through said vent A :im inge.

n testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 9th day of November 1928.v l

GLENN E. MAKINSTER. 

